Materials for Design

European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

There are many stories in folklore that feature trees, including tales where they are the key to immortality or, in the case of the ash tree, where they can induce a fear of snakes if one stands near to the rustling of its leaves. Beyond these ancient tales, ash has been used throughout history in a number of applications, from transport to weapons of war, and ash is well known as a tough and flexible hardwood. In fact, it is one of the toughest European timbers around.

It is these key characteristics of supreme flexibility and good shock absorption, in both its natural state and also when it is steamed, that sets ash apart from other timbers. This combination of qualities comes from the dense hardness of growth ...